Synthesis and optical spectroscopy of transparent YAG ceramics activated with Er3+

YAG transparent ceramics singly doped with Er3+ and codoped with Yb3+ and Er3+ have been produced by vacuum sintering of the commercial powders. Prior to sintering powders have been spray dried, linear and cold isostatic pressed and finally calcinated at 600 degrees C. Their structural and morphological properties have been characterized by X-ray diffractometry and electron microscopy. The room temperature absorption spectrum has been measured in the 5500-28,500 cm(-1) range and analyzed in the framework of the Judd-Ofelt theory. The emission spectra in the visible and NIR regions have been investigated in different experimental conditions and important parameters useful for the evaluation of the perspectives of application of the synthesized materials have been obtained. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.